TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A major protest took place in London on Tuesday to oppose the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the UK and demand his immediate arrest upon arrival.
Thousands of people gathered outside the UK Prime Minister's Office in central London in an "emergency protest" against Herzog's visit, which was scheduled for Tuesday night local time, as reported by Anadolu.
Carrying Palestinian flags, the protesters condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer for allowing the visit of the Israeli leader.
The protesters chanted pro-Palestinian slogans and criticized the government by shouting, "Keir Starmer you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."
They also carried various banners to protest Israel's attacks in Gaza, some of which referred to Herzog as a "genocide president."
The masses accused Herzog of aiding and abetting the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and demanded that the British government issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader.
“Starmer rolls out red carpet for genocide,” read the front-page headline of The National, a Scottish daily, amid growing outrage over the British Prime Minister's meeting with Herzog.
Herzog is on a three-day visit to London and is expected to meet with Starmer, members of the UK parliament, public representatives, and media figures.
Several British politicians had previously urged Starmer to avoid a meeting with Herzog, considering Israel's brutal attacks in Gaza, which have caused immense suffering.
Dozens of UK parliament members had also written a letter to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns about the decision to allow Herzog's visit.
Herzog's visit, as reported by Al Jazeera, comes amid the week when Israel dropped bombs in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Qatar, prompting calls for his arrest while in London.
The International Centre for Justice for Palestine (ICJP) has written to Scotland Yard demanding an investigation into the Israeli president upon his arrival in the UK, "on suspicion of bearing criminal liability for alleged war crimes," the group said.
“Herzog is suspected of bearing criminal liability for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture, and actions that constitute plausible genocide,” the ICJP said.
Protests condemning the visit began earlier this week. Demonstrators are set to gather with pots and pans at Chatham House to disrupt Herzog's speech there.
Friends of Al-Aqsa, a UK-based NGO advocating political change related to Palestine, has petitioned the Attorney General to initiate criminal proceedings against Herzog for allegations of promoting indiscriminate attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
Israel's genocidal war has claimed the lives of over 64,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. Israeli military assaults have devastated the enclave, which is now facing a famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Keir Starmer's Defense
A few hours before he met with Herzog, Starmer condemned Israel's attack on the capital of Qatar, Doha, while defending his decision to proceed with the meeting.
In a speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, Starmer joined global condemnation of Israel's missile strike on Hamas' negotiation team in Doha.
"I condemn the strikes that Israel carried out in Doha yesterday. They violate Qatar's sovereignty. They do nothing to secure the peace that the UK and so many of our allies are committed to,” as reported by Anadolu.
Starmer said he spoke with the Emir of Qatar on Tuesday night, immediately after the attack, to convey "support and solidarity" from the UK.
“He was crystal clear that, notwithstanding the attacks, he will continue to work on a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire and a two-state outcome."
Highlighting his meeting with Palestinian Authority President Abbas on Monday, and his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog shortly after addressing members of parliament, Starmer urged Israel to take action for peace.
"I will be absolutely clear that we condemn Israel's action. I will also be clear that restrictions on aid must be lifted. The offensive in Gaza must stop and settlement building must cease. But, Mr. Speaker, however difficult, the UK will not walk away from a diplomatic solution."
Stephen Flynn, the Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), questioned Starmer about his decision to host the Israeli president.
Referring to Herzog, Flynn said, "The man who called for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and to send the artillery shells that destroyed their homes, their families and their friends. A man who will ignore every word the prime minister says.”
In response, Starmer reiterated his call for peace and added, “I will not give up on diplomacy.”
Editor's Choice: Trump Claims Netanyahu, Not U.S., Decides to Strike Qatar
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
